15-year-old rape victim delivers premature baby in government school in India

The girl is a Class 10 student and was 26 weeks pregnant.

India registered 2,155 rape cases in 2016 and Delhi has the dubious distinction of being the rape capital of the countryGetty

A 15-year-old rape victim gave birth to a premature inside the washroom of a government school in northwest Delhi on Thursday (20 July). The condition of the girl and the baby is reported to be stable.

The police have arrested her 51-year-old neighbour, Abdul Gaffar, for allegedly raping her.

The girl is a Class 10 student and was 26 weeks pregnant. According to the police, the neighbour allegedly raped her eight times in the last seven months and used to give her Rs 500-Rs 800 (£5.97 to £9.55) every time so she would not say anything to her parents.

The officer said that even after the victim started showing signs of pregnancy, the family members did not suspect anything amiss.

The family thought she was suffering from gas-related issues. Her friends or teachers were also not aware of her pregnancy.

"The incident came to light on July 20 after the school authorities approached the police. On reaching the spot, the police were informed that the girl was taking a compartmental exam when she excused herself to go to the washroom citing 'stomach pain'. She delivered the baby inside the washroom," a police officer said.

The school authorities rushed the girl and the baby to a hospital for treatment. The hospital authorities informed the police that the girl had delivered a premature baby.

"After the girl regained consciousness in the hospital, she narrated her ordeal to the police. She told the police that she was being raped by her 51-year-old neighbour, Abdul Gaffar, for the past seven months. He would call her to his room under some pretext, and sexually assault her," the officer said.

The Indian Express cited sources as saying that the accused, an autorickshaw driver in the capital, had escaped from his rented accommodation before a police team got there, but was later traced and arrested.

During interrogation, Gaffar reportedly told the police that he gave the minor abortion pills after she complained of stomach ache. The pills led to complications and hence she delivered the baby in the 26th week.